New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Science
New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)
Hudson, G. V. (George Vernon)
Lepidoptera -- New Zealand
Its length when full grown is about 1-1/8 inches. The upper surface is
dark reddish-brown with numerous blackish stripes and white markings,
which give it a very variegated appearance; the under side is pale green;
there are two small tubercles on the back of the eighth segment.
The pupa is concealed amongst refuse on the ground, the larva constructing
no cocoon before changing.
The perfect insect appears from October till April, and may often be
observed on mild days in the middle of winter. It is common in forest
districts, where it is usually seen resting on the tree-trunks, in which
situation its colouring must afford it efficient protection from many
enemies.
SELIDOSEMA HUMILLIMA, n. sp.
(Plate IX., fig. 5.)
This inconspicuous-looking insect has occurred at Wellington.
The expansion of the wings of the male is about 1-1/8 inches. _The
fore-wings are dull yellowish-brown; there are three short oblique dark
brown stripes on the costa, inclined very much towards the termen_; the
first of these stripes is distinctly double, and the second and third
partially so; there is an indistinct brown mark just below the apex,
several slender faint streaks on the veins near the middle of the wing,
and a very distinct brown shading on the dorsum. The hind-wings are very
pale ochreous.
This species may be readily distinguished from the other species of the
genus by its small size and by the obliquity of the costal stripes. In _S.
humillima_ the costal markings slope very rapidly from the base towards the
termen; in the {84}other allied species these markings are but slightly
inclined, and in some cases slope in the reverse direction.
The perfect insect appears from December till March. It frequents the
immediate neighbourhood of Wellington, but is not a common species. At
present I am only acquainted with the male insect.
SELIDOSEMA PRODUCTATA, Walk.
(_Larentia productata_, Walk. 1197 (?). _Selidosema pungata_, Feld.
cxxxi. 23. _Selidosema_ (?) _fragosata_, Feld. cxxxi. 29. _Zylobara
productata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 98.)
(Plate IX., figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 [M] varieties, 11, 12, 13, and 14 [F]
ditto; Plate III., fig. 22, larva.)
This species is very common, and generally distributed throughout both the
North and South Islands. It has also occurred at Stewart Island.
The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-3/8 inches, of the female 1-1/8
inches.
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